RoadVitals

1996 Nissan Pathfinder Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Jun 7, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 159 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureSteeringVisibility
Filed Jun 7, 2015

I BOUGHT THIS CAR A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND COULDN'T DRIVE IT RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE I BOUGHT IT A LITTLE BEFORE I GOT MY LICENSE. SO EVENTUALLY WHEN I GOT IT ON THE ROAD I ENDED UP GETTING A REJECTION STICKER BECAUSE THE E BREAK AND A FEW OTHER REASONS. ONE THING I'VE NOTICED ABOUT MY S.U.V IS THE WIND SHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. THE WHOLE UNDERNEATH IS ROTTED OUT, (THAT'S WHAT THE GUY TOLD ME WHO INSPECTED MY CAR) AN EVER SINCE I'VE HAD IT, I'VE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY STEERING, I'VE TRIED THE POWER STEERING FLUID DIDN'T WORK. I'M NOT POSITIVE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT I WAS REFERED TO THIS SO I'M TRYING TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO IF I CAN DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA ID
10723884
Incident
Jun 6, 2015
Body & structureSteering
Filed Dec 5, 2013

BROUGHT MY PATHFINDER TO STAR NISSAN FOR THE CORROSION RECALL, I WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS TOO FAR GONE TO REPAIR AND THEY SAID THAT A RENTAL CAR WOULD BE PROVIDED TO ME, "AT NO COST" WHILE COMPENSATION FOR VEHICLE WAS BEING PROCESSED. I AGREED TO THIS, AT THE RENTAL CAR LOCATION I WAS INFORMED THAT NISSAN WILL COVER RENTAL BUT NOT INSURANCE, I HAVE STATE REQUIRED LIABILITY BUT NOT THEFT AND COLLISION AS THE CAR IS A 1996 WITH 210000 MILES ON IT AND THE PREMIUM OUT WEIGHT THE VALUE OF THE CAR. SO I HAD TO AGREE TO THE COLLISION AND FIR, THEFT INSURANCE OF $9 A DAY. NOW NISSAN SAYS THEY WILL NOT PAY THE $9 A DAY "SUPPLEMENTAL" INSURANCE. I CLAIM THIS INSURANCE IS NOT ""SUPPLEMENT" BUT MANDATED AS THE RENTAL WAS A NEW CAR AND IF STOLEN I, NOT NISSAN WOULD BE HELD LIABLE I WOULD LIKE, NO DEMAND PAYMENT FOR THE INSURANCE I HAVE PAID TO COVER, "THERE " NOT MY RENTAL. IF I HAD RENTED THIS CAR MY CREDIT CARD WOULD HAVE COVERED ALL INSURANCE BUT SINCE, NISSAN WAS THE RENTER MY CREDIT CARD DOES NOT COVER THE THEFT AND COLLISION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10554992
Incident
Nov 1, 2011
Mileage
210,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 14, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 164,000.

NHTSA ID
10535316
Incident
Apr 1, 2013
Mileage
157,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 3, 2011

I STARTED TO EXPERIENCED SEVERE SHAKING,FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, EFFECTING MY STEERING AND HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE,WHEN EITHER CHANGING LANES OR WHEN I HIT A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD. I HONESTLY STARTED TO BELIEVE MY CAR WAS ABOUT TO ROLL OVER, THUS CAUSING INJURY TO MYSELF AND POSSIBLY OTHERS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I THEN DECIDED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL NIZZAN DEALASHIP TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD,THAT THE LEFT APRON ASSEMBLY & LEFT CLOSINGPLATE WAS SEVERELY ROTTED OUT AND SPLIT APART DUE TO CORROSION, WHICH LEAD TO THE FAILURE OF MY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT STRUT TOWER, WHICH IN TURN AFFECTS THE VEHICLE'S ALIIGNMENT. TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL AUTOBODY SHOP AND HAD TO REPLACE BOTH PARTS THAT I DESCRIBED ABOVED,ALONG WITH BOLTED ON PARTS, AN UNDERCOATING SPRAY TO PREVENT ANY FUTURE CORROSION AND THE LABOR COST CHARGED INVOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10380091
Incident
Dec 12, 2010
Mileage
126,168 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 11, 2009

WHEN TOWING A CAMPER WITH MY 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER THE SHOCKS GAVE OUT AND CAUSED THE BODY OF THE CAR TO DROP DOWN TO RUB ON THE WHEELS. AFTER DISCONNECTING THE CAMPER THE BODY ROSE UP TO NORMAL POSITION AND I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME AREA OVER THE REAR WHEELS ON BOTH SIDES IS COMPLETELY ROTTED. CHECKING MY SON-IN-LAWS 1995 PATHFINDER I DISCOVERED THAT HIS WAS AS BAD OR WORSE THAN MINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10273518
Incident
Dec 20, 2008
Mileage
95,000 mi
Body & structureExterior lighting
Filed Sep 13, 2004

B&J TIRES AND WHEELS SOLD ME A TIRE THAT WAS OVER TEN YEARS OLD AND THE HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED BY THE MANUFACTURER AFTER THE RECALL OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10090930
Incident
Jul 19, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Mar 16, 2004

WHILE STEPPING ONTO THE DRIVER SIDE RUNNING BOARD IT SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PICK UP THE RUNNING BOARD, PLACE IT INSIDE VEHICLE, AND DRIVE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT RUNNING BOARD WAS RUSTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10063298
Incident
Mar 16, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Dec 3, 2003

PASSENGER'S SIDE RUNNING BOARD BRACKET RUSTED AND COULD FALL APART. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10049957
Incident
Dec 3, 2003
Mileage
70,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 16, 2003

SEVERE RUSTING OF FRAME, WORST AREA IS AT LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE AT TOP OF CURVE IN FRAME AT TIRE. SEVERAL BODY SHOPS AND A NISSAN DEALER SAID THIS IS NOT ABLE TO BE FIXED AT A COST EFFECTIVE RATE AND THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE USED AS INTENDED. IT COULD FALL APART UNDER TENSION. NISSAN CO. USA SAID IT IS OUT OF WARRENTY, SORRY FOR YOUR LUCK.*AK

NHTSA ID
10028418
Incident
Feb 24, 2003
Body & structure
Filed Apr 25, 2002
4 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING, SOMETHING FELL OFF FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING, VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND 4 PEOPLE WERE INJURED, CLAIM 46-0449-841. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6901079
Incident
Jun 5, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Feb 28, 1998

DOOR SEALS LEAK AIR.

NHTSA ID
531554
Incident
Nov 1, 1997

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .